Dozens of holographic windows materialized, blinked away, and swarmed around the metallic form of Eon as she surveyed the war effort proceeding through Asia from within her sanctuary. Warnings appeared in over half of the screens, and were scanned in an instant.

"Complications have arisen," she said tonelessly, red eyes giving each screen an equal amount of examination time. "Widespread induced reversion of infected fire demons detected."

"Someone seems to have intervened," Daemonus said, his armored form almost indiscernible from the shadows of the far end of the darkened chamber, leaving only the sharp red V of his helmet's visor as indication of his presence. "Have they attempted to move on the weapons?"

"Negative. Shau'karanthoi reading operational on all fronts."

"Then it matters little. The boy destroyed roughly half of Gouki's forces as it is," Daemonus said. "We've already opened the path to the fortress. Any who attempt to move against the army will only be reinfected. Have them adjusted to a different frequency and enforce resistance in the forced reversion."

"Frequency adjusted," Eon announced after a few moments. Windows flickered around her. "Seeding will commence in future infestations. Those who attempt to force the reversion will become corrupted."

It was a few more moments before Eon spoke again. "Strike Team is ready for deployment," she announced to Daemonus. Orders?"

"Leave them on standby. Once the heroes show up to begin their operation, we'll have them deployed with their orders."

"Understood."

A voice soon cut into their conversation, blaring over the loudspeaker system in the sanctuary as a holographic layout of the location appeared, a certain section of it blinking with light. Deep within the bowels of Eon's sanctuary, the two could feel as ancient machinery came to life.

"Digma Zenon configuration in progress."

The door to the guest bedroom slid open quietly, allowing Alasea to step into the room. Her eyes had already adjusted to the darkness, and she could make out R.D.'s form sprawled out over the one bed.

Good. He was still there, and asleep.

She had forced him to take it, citing his wellbeing more important than hers, that he'd need the rest before he went to the Ventre dimension and began his assault. She slid the door closed just as silently as before, and--

"You're up late," came R.D.'s voice, causing the girl to jump.

"And you're still awake," she shot back as she turned around, looking irritated. He said nothing, and she slumped her shoulders

"I'm assuming you have a reason for sneaking back into the house with Tomoko?"

"You could tell both of us were out?"

"Yeah."

She sighed, and looked over him again. His eyes were closed--he must've heard them; he hadn't moved any since when she'd departed from the house. She was again reminded how much his body had been augmented by Lumiya. Knowing his eyes were closed, she stripped, slipping her pants and one of her shirts off her body before climbing into bed under the covers with him.

That certainly got a reaction out of him. "Alli? What're you--?"

"Shh."

She slipped her arms around him and pressed her body against his, clinging to him. It was the first moment she could really relax with him since he'd come back to them. They'd barely saved his life in Russia, only to immediately head into the center of the Multiverse and witness the Convergence, and fight against Malvettix one last time.

She needed this one moment of peace. After a moment or two, she felt him relax slightly and slip an arm around her awkwardly, uncomfortable with the contact. Her face colored as she remembered the recent issue between them, and what Helena had revealed to her--but she knew for him that that was a long time ago, and shoved her embarrassment aside.

"Something's wrong, isn't it?" he asked. She didn't answer him. She knew he'd never get to sleep if she told him about their discovery. Alasea didn't know how he'd react, but she knew that he'd get no rest if he knew what was going on in his brain right now.

"Just... go to sleep, R.D.," she whispered. "We'll talk in the morning."

And hopefully their lives wouldn't go back to hell when they did.

(OOC: Are there any posts I need to respond to then? I'm not ignoring your posts, but the one scene we had left with Robot had kinda ended and I didn't quite feel like describing him leaving and doing nothing else.)



(OOC: It's okay for once. :P)


Meta let out a shriek at the slap on her ass and turned around with a look of incredulosity on her face. When she saw him grin back, the rage came rushing back and her expression changed accordingly. Teeth clenched along with fists as the emotions got higher. How does the bastard keep doing that? A thought briefly came at his dodges, so narrow and fine.

She stomped her foot on the floor, causing a visible shockwave to travel through it and rock the chair a lot. Since this wasn't a fight to the death, she could've just thrown a tantrum and stormed off, but Meta was serious about this. Seriously angry. A punch to Lament's grinning prettyboy face would fix that. She leapt into the air, both fists raised and clenched together to come down upon him.


Edited by Morphman on December 6, 2012 at 13:15:23

At that moment, chaos erupted. Humanoid figures in black robes stepped away through the inky darkness created by the shadow creatures' cleansing of their comrades, each with cowls hiding away their pale, eyeless faces. They drew dangerous-looking curved blades from the folds of their robes, each one as black as their clothing.

And almost as if rehearsed, the Myrddraal of Ziatoch struck like lightning. There was little time for the fire demons and shadow creatures to react from the initial assault. Their limbs moved almost like fluid, blades sweeping through the air at inhuman speeds and flashing like sheet lightning whenever they struck an enemy weapon.

Daemonus knew that most, if not all, of the Myrddraal would not survive--even with the initial surprise attack, they were outnumbered almost three to one. But the time they would buy would only give more time for the bulk of their forces to reach Namonai's castle, and the reinforcements would soon arrive and cut off Gouki and Donovan's forces from closing in on them. Soon, the mutant warships would be on the horizon, ready to unleash hellish fire down upon the forces of the Five.

Exploit the enemies' strengths to your advantage. Destroy them from within, with subversion and deception. Absorb that which remains, warping enemy into ally.

That was what allowed the Eternal to sunder the countless dimensions left in His wake.

Within an expansive chamber inside the cavern, the Knight Riders and dragons clad in human form had gathered, fully geared for war. Each of the Riders had been armed with shocklances, spear-like weapons imbued with elemental magic to launch powerful bolts of energy from their centers. Perfect for striking at airborne enemies who got too close. The dragons each carried their personal Dragonblade in their hands, though few would need to taste the blood of their enemies this day. Sheena and Kujo both stood at the forefront, alongside the Ancients that stood as guests in the weyr.

They all watched as Relayia, also in human form, stepped up onto an upraised rock that served as a makeshift stage for her to address them.

"We've come across a stroke of luck," she announced to those gathered. "Right now, the forces of Ziatoch march on Xastra's citadel in China. While comparably few in number, the full might of Ziatoch's forces can match that of Xastra's. They will be fully distracted by the skirmish, and thus unprepared for our operation. Now is the time to strike."



Sunlight streamed into the guest bedroom, and Alasea awoke to the crack of thunder. She shot up in bed just in time to see the telltale flash of green light that signaled R.D.'s use of Chaos Control as he warped away from the island.

"Dammit, R.D., no!" she shrieked angrily, throwing away the covers and snatching her pants up from the floor. Movement thundered in the house as Tomoko and her parents came to investigate the noise.



The blaze of light deposited R.D. roughly on the ground, forcing him to steady himself lest he suffer like Matt. "Sorry, Alli," he muttered to himself as he looked at the paper Donovan had given him before putting it into his satchel. "I'm not going to let you talk me out of this."

He stood up to his full height, and stopped. Apparently, he was surrounded--by fire demons and shadow creatures both, as well as other figures clad in robes. They looked like they had been amidst combat, but with his arrival, they had all stopped to look at him.

"Um," he said, breaking the silence. "Did I come at a bad time?"

All at once, combat resumed all around R.D., causing him to wince at the sudden noise of war. Well, so long as they're more interested in killing each other than him, that was fine. He didn't want to have to scour another canyon clean of life by accident.

"Fine with me," R.D. remarked to the shadow creature that approached him. "You guys, uh... have fun."

With that, he launched himself forward and into the air, slamming his foot into the back of a Myrddraal's head--he recognized the creatures, and felt only amusement as it thrashed in rage as he used its head as a springboard to launch himself higher and further, out of the battle. While airborne, fires raged beneath him, as did hundreds upon hundreds of spikes that sought to impale the vile creatures. Yet while their skin crackled and burned, few spikes touched the nimble creatures, and even those impaled pressed on--the shadow creatures' tactics just weren't working.

Once clear, he simply hauled ass. No point in sticking around this mess.

It took him a while, but soon he found himself at the coast. He was hoping this was it--he was practically opposite of Alasea's sanctuary on the microcontinent, and Shayol Ghul, while still in view, was much smaller in the distance.

It was cold here. The sands were gray, like the skies overhead, and they crunched beneath his shoes as he walked down to the water. At least this place didn't have a stormy tide right now.

"Now what'd he say...?" R.D. muttered, trying to remember as he pulled the slip of paper out of his satchel. "Ah, right. Water, fireflies, fruit... something like that."

He glanced once more at the paper, then threw it into the water.

"... fireflies. Sure," R.D. muttered, understanding what was really happening. "Aaaaand they're headed out to sea. Fantastic."

They were quick, too. They'd be gone if he didn't get a move on. He stepped back, gathering all his strength as he grabbed hold of Lumiya's power and channeled wind. And he lunged.

Within moments he had blasted across the ocean, leaving a contrail of water behind him--he also may have clipped that sea serpent's fin, but he didn't care. If it attacked, it'd just mean he'd have a bit of an exotic breakfast that morning. It wasn't long when he saw the trees appear from the depths, and he skid to a halt, dousing the trunks of the trees with the kicked-up water.

He gave each fruit a cursory glance, one after the other, trying to make sense of it. Of course there'd be different fruit. Of course Donovan had to be vague and not remark on which one. Curse Kuro for making the Five into such annoying bloody creatures.

Well, let's see... "Fame." Well, in a sense, he had plenty of that. Damn near all the invading creatures on Earth wanted him dead. Infamy would have to do. Pass.

"Wealth." Pfft. Governments, countries, economy, all had collapsed in the world once Azaleas had awoken the Seven Beasts. Pass.

"Love." Uncomfortable feelings arose, words remarked to him by Helena. No--like he said before, he too much to do first. It was just too dangerous. Pass.

That left "Power" and "Other." He was certain Matt would have some hilarious left-field remark on the banana being chosen for power's, um, fruit. And the starfruit... other. Well, as tempting as "Power" was (he'd need all the power he can get), "Other" looked like the one he needed, and he snatched it from the tree. He tossed it in his hand a bit, then bit into it. Ick. A bit sour.

He chewed on it thoughtfully, looking around. Next was that root. After a moment, he went and grabbed the banana--he hadn't eaten today, dammit. Maybe he'd save this one for later.

Edited by RisingDragon on December 25, 2012 at 11:18:00

He didn't miss the actions of the tree. Almost without thinking, he picked up the root and tugged it out of the water while he ate. And just like that, he was blinded and swept away from the world, ending up in a place that was quite literally nothing.

His chewing slowed for a bit.

Not for the first time he'd seen something like this. Only this time Matt wasn't here, and this clearly wasn't all in his head. He swallowed the chunk of fruit in his mouth, and took another bite. And this is where the really weird shit of the day begins, he thought.

= = = The Nexus, the Past = = =

Leaving the ground almost immediately after crashing down where Lament had been, Meta dashed again for him, fist shining in the magical spectrum with a dark lust for facial destruction.

Gutmuck it all, he's too quick and nimble. Blasted man is like a lucedarned ballerina! There were still over four minutes left, it all had happened pretty fast so far, but if she were to hit him, then at this rate she'd have to cheat.

Inadvertently the Hallow Arm, the Hand of Chaos materialized around her hand and bursts of silver light burst out of the back, washing over her hand and obscuring most of her body as it propelled her forward. Rage mixed with brief surprise as her speed increased beyond what she was used to at all, her metal-encased fist heavier, but not straying from its trajectory.

Armour didn't count as weapons after all. And neither did the clone the Hallow Arm created right behind her, its skin aflush with heat and fire, appearing like barely a simulacrum of Meta as it leapt out from hiding at the last moment to intercept a possible dodge from Lament and kick him right back at Meta herself.


= = = Bahamut's Weyr, the Present = = =

"Kzt," Robot whirred, "where shall we strike?" he asked Relaiya. His eyes rested briefly on Arya and Kaiora, pondering if the three of them would do right to be coming along in the patchwork army.

Oh, I see how it is, R.D. growled mentally. We're going to start off with the really hard questions first.

Well, Donovan did say "tell no lies." Might as well start off. He swallowed the food in his mouth and cleared his throat.

"I have no idea," he said honestly. "That hasn't been revealed to me. People call me R.D. though. I suppose that'll have to do."

"The strike force will target will distract any aerial forces above the castle itself," Relayia informed Robot and his crew. "We shall drive them after us, force them to get between us and Ziatoch's forces. With the bulk of their forces concentrating on the battle, the infiltration team will slip in to secure the Servitor Unit Gatz. Everyone, prepare for departure."

There was a slight rumble as the Knight Riders and the dragons conversed with one another as they started filtering out of the chamber. Relayia looked to Robot and the others. "While the other Ancients will be participating in rescuing their comrade, you, Kaiora, and Arya have another task I need you to complete. You will not be accompanying us to China for the assault."

= = = The City of White Metal = = =

Perhaps the one place in the multiverse that could truly be called even remotely safe, despite being so near its gravest threats, Gilgamesh felt out of place here, and yet the gravity of the situation pressed on him so harshly that he could not simply leave. He had sworn an oath to his Lady to be of aid to her. He so desperately wanted to break it now. He couldn't just sit around doing nothing, he was not the type of man for that. Gilgamesh was just about ready to sell his services to Xastra or Ziatoch, but his oath prevented him.

He had told the Ryhaar to work on a way to get her back, as he knew it had something to do with time distortions. Meta had been sent elsewhere, had disappeared, but Gilgamesh had sensed no spatial warping, and it frightened him. Where is she? And is that even the right question to ask? He dared hardly contemplate, and kept his mind off such things by challenging the champions of the other races Meta had freed from captivity. He dared not fight the God-Beasts, as their size would mean destruction to the city, but the dwarves, elves and jotun each provided him with much-needed distraction. He spun a sword in his hand as he challenged five at once. Today would be entertaining.


= = = The City of White Metal, the Grand Hall = = =

A mailed fist struck the marble table and the thunderous roar of a mighty voice followed it. "Why must we still wait?! Why must we lie in hiding, like cowards?! This world is our right, our day of claim is here and now, to smite the gods and take what is owed!" The mountain of a man had skin that was alive with fire, pouring out from between thin cracks like those in solid rock. His eyes were a burning furnace, his beard like a river of magma. Surtr, the king of the fire and storm giants, was a man of ill temper, and it was being tested severely as he was forced to stay in the City, especially when it was alongside Thrym, the king of the frost and rock giants, an ancient rival.

"Easy, feller," Durinn, the dwarven king sitting between his brothers Mótsognir and Dvalinn spoke, "we are to create an opportunity for our Lady's return. To get her back and pave the way."

On the darker end of the oval table one of the seated moved to stand. "Thiss would go a lot eassier if I could jusst releasse the God-Beasstss." Thrym pushed him back down on the shoulder, back into his seat. "Easy Tepes, your association with them is getting to you if your snake-like tongue begins to speak even more like them." Blood-red eyes glared at the giant, who was seated in the middle of one side, across from Surtr. Begrudgingly, he settled back into the shadows and began a whispered conversation with the similarly pale man next to him.

On the other end, near the empty head of the table, the scorpion-man Serket gritted his teeth. "If we are tho acth, we should acth sthrongry om severar fronths," he said in his recognizeable, tongueless accent. "My kimd has a score tho sethre with the spithers of Shishio."

"Chishio," corrected a red-haired man playing cards with himself on a seperate, small table off to the side.

It was enough to set Serket off and with a rage-filled shriek he climbed over the table and leapt over the dwarves to get at the man. This in turn caused the argument to flare up again at the table and soon Surtr and Thrym were sending fists over at each other and trying to strangle their rival. The dwarves looked on hopelessly in despair, while Tepes leaned back with a look of disapproval and a knowing smirk.


= = = Nexus, The Past = = =

The fiery simulacrum soared over the both of them and landed behind Lament, while Meta was held in place by Lament holding on to her fist. Her other hand shot out to grab his wrist and hold him in place, within her range as she kicked out in synch with her fire clone. "This tactical enough for ya?!"

More clones appeared around them, with hints of the power of Evil apparent in them as Meta's power of a Dark Balance mixed with the artifact's. "I've been using my mind in all my fights so far! I've tried to knock Electra into the sea and turn her own power against her! I've tried to attack Hydro from the inside! I gathered armies, many allies that rival my father's and those who would usurp his throne! I've played the game and every time all I was shown is that power is all that matters!"

Edited by Morphman on December 27, 2012 at 1:16:33

Edited by Morphman on December 27, 2012 at 12:28:37

His quest? Well, that was both tricky and simple enough to answer, all that once. Best not keep the magic voice waiting, though.

"I'm going to raise and bring back an army," he started to explain. "Bring them back to the Beta dimension, to Earth, so I can crush Azaleas and his forces. Someone has to stop him, and he was dumb enough to pick me for the job."

R.D.'s eyes narrowed in irritation as the armor appeared, and the voice spoke again. How in Hell was that answer incorrect?

"Dare I ask way?" he said before he could stop himself, his own voice sounding as displeased as the other.

A deeper reason? What was this... whatever it was, going on about? He sighed, tuning out the armor and the voice, bringing the starfruit up to his lips and taking another bite as he pondered.

A reason that's dictated his every action.

What had his actions been thus far? Waking up without memories into a world on the brink of destruction, jumping from dimension to dimension with what anyone else would see as a lunatic and his pet robot, trying to outrun Azaleas and Ziatoch and who the hell knows what else. They sought ways to bring down their enemies and return the Core to its home, sought ways to slay Azaleas' forces and put a stop to his plans, sought ways to find the Omega Essence, to tear it away from those who sought to abuse its power...

... sought ways to eliminate all their problems, and finding the power to do so. Power. That's what it came down to, wasn't it? He sought power when fighting that sea serpent, to open the way to the sea. He sought power to defeat the crazed demon hunter that thought he was what he needed to kill to earn his salvation. He sought power to slay the monster that had killed the King of Dragons. He sought power to save his friends from Ziatoch's horde. He sought power to destroy one of the Beasts and take revenge for the slaughtered Dragons, sought power to defeat an usurper king that threatened his friends, sought power to tear apart the one creature responsible for his sister's murder.

"My quest... I'm trying to find the power I need to end all of this," he said, his voice growing stronger, his gaze growing defiant, blazing gold in the bright light of the chamber. "I'm trying to find the power to destroy Azaleas, and Re-Tuul, and all of the bastards who're trying to hurt my friends! I'm trying to find it, and I will find it!"

Well, that was simple enough--he didn't need to introspect much for that.

"My friends," he said, then bit into the starfruit again, chewing some before swallowing it. "The ones I made on this lunatic quest. Matt and Hugo and Helena, Alasea and Ileyna... they're the ones that have been at my side this entire time, and they're the ones who keep getting threatened and hurt by my enemies."

That was the one truth he had learned thus far--that his friends were truly friends, willing to do anything for him, and he for them, however hard it would be for him to admit. "They came back for me and saved me when I was Daemonus' plaything and took me back, instead of killing me like Daemonus had hoped. The power I'm looking for... I need it to protect them and make sure none of this crap hurts them again."

He knew it to be true. More than learning about his past, what was left of it, more than wanting finish off the rest of the Beasts because they deserved it... that much mattered to him more than anything else.

R.D. shook his head, starting to feel irritated with this voice's specifics and psychology. "Are you talking about Alasea?" he asked, sounding weary and annoyed. "I care for her, yeah, but I'm not in love with her. We haven't had the chance to explore any feelings, and likely never will if Azaleas kills us all. As it stands? No, I don't hold her more dear than the rest of my friends. We're family, in a way, and I won't choose one over the other. None of this 'most' dear nonsense, voice. Even if I am in love with her, it doesn't mean that it's more than I care for the rest of my friends. Take it or leave it; you know damn well this answer is the right one."

"Probably because Helena bugged me about it on the beach that day," R.D. said back, staring back at the black armor across from him. "And I feel differently for her than I do the others, I'm attracted to her. So what? They're all dear to me. Is that an answer you can't accept?"

He shook his head. "Tch. If that's what you want to hear, then fine. She's the most dear to me." Maybe it was true, but it didn't really stop him from lacing the words with sarcasm.

He was certain the voice... armor... whatever the hell it was... was mocking him now. He finished off the starfruit and wiped the juices off on his pants.

Luckily, he knew the answer that question already. A little, useless tidbit gleaned from what little memory he had recovered. "White, and black. To a degree. And green and blue, a little."

Mostly useless.